A place near water
IELTS Speaking Part 2 · cue card
Describe a place near water (a river, lake or sea) that you enjoyed visiting.
You should say:
- where it is
- when you went there
- what you did there
- and explain why you enjoyed it
You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.
Free account required for the live AI partner.
Band 7+ sample answer
About 227 words, roughly two minutes spoken. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise: examiners notice rehearsed answers.
I'd like to talk about Ratargul, which is a freshwater swamp forest in Sylhet, in the northeast of Bangladesh. I went there in August two years ago with three friends from university, right after our semester exams.
What makes it special is that during the monsoon, the forest is flooded, so the trees stand in water up to two or three metres deep. You can't walk; you have to hire a small wooden boat with a local boatman who paddles you slowly between the trees.
The trip itself was really peaceful. We spent about two hours on the boat, gliding through narrow green channels. The water was so still that it reflected the branches like a mirror. Our boatman told us stories about the area, including how the villagers protect the forest from illegal logging. At one point we stopped completely, turned off our phones and just listened. All we could hear were birds and the drip of water from the leaves. Later, we had lunch at a tiny stall nearby, where they served fresh river fish.
I enjoyed it because it felt like a completely different world from city life. There was no traffic, no noise and no rush. It also made me appreciate how rich our natural environment is, and how fragile it is. Ever since that trip, I've been much more interested in conservation.
Useful vocabulary
- swamp forest
- a forest that grows in wet, flooded land
- gliding through
- moving smoothly and quietly
- illegal logging
- cutting down trees against the law
- as still as a mirror
- completely calm
- fragile
- easily damaged
- conservation
- protecting nature
Part 3 follow-up questions
- Why do many people like to live near water?
- What problems do rivers and seas face today?
- Should swimming be taught in all schools?
- How does tourism affect natural areas?
- What can ordinary people do to protect rivers?
Tip: in Part 3, give an opinion, a reason and an example, and consider another point of view. Aim for 3–5 sentences per answer.
How to practise this card
- Set a one-minute timer and write keywords for each bullet, not full sentences.
- Speak for two minutes and record yourself on your phone.
- Listen back: did you cover every bullet and the "explain" part? Note one phrase from the vocabulary list to use next time.
- Answer two Part 3 questions out loud, then try the card again with the AI Speaking Partner.